The Tufts Dance Collective (TDC) aims to make you sweat tomorrow night. This year, the theme of TDC's spring show, "Make You Sweat" was chosen, in part, because the choreographers' dance is to the song of the same title (more commonly recognized as "Everybody Dance Now" by C + C Music Factory).
TDC is a student-run organization that welcomes all students regardless of previous experience or level of skill. Anyone is free to dance his or her heart out, assuming he or she attends the requisite number of practices.
As senior and co-director of TDC Sam Stiegler said, "I think TDC is unique because it gives everyone a chance to perform. We don't require auditions or experience, and people get the chance to let loose a little bit. [TDC] gives as many people as possible the chance to perform and have fun doing it."
Excluding the choreographer dance, all the dances in the show are open to students who attend the general interest meeting at the beginning of the semester. Once students hear each choreographer describe his or her dance, they can decide which dance(s) they would like to participate in.
Choosing which number to dance in could prove even more difficult than overcoming the vexation of having two left feet. The spring show offers over 20 different acts of varying styles and dance disciplines. As senior Alex Kramer, TDC's treasurer, explains, there is "lots of variety in the dances being performed."
Another TDC board member, senior Meg Simpson, said that "the show spans a broad spectrum of styles." The 20 acts are diverse; step dance, tap, ballroom and hip-hop are just some of the genres the spring show will include.
Accordingly, the show will feature music of various genres. With musical acts ranging from pop diva Madonna to cock-rockers The Darkness, it seems a wide variety of musical palates will be satisfied tomorrow night and that audiences will recognize much of the music played.
In addition to dances choreographed specifically for TDC, "Make You Sweat" will also feature dances from other on-campus dance groups like the breakdancing group Turbo, Sarabande, which fuses ballet, modern and jazz, and La Salsa, which, not surprisingly, specializes in salsa dancing.
In keeping with the show's title, the costuming of some of the numbers will reflect an '80s workout theme. Costuming choices are made at the discretion of each dance's choreographer. With only 30 dollars allotted for each dance, creating a cohesive look can be difficult. Choreographers meet the challenge by relying on students to bring in mostly outfits of their own finding.
With open dances and no auditions required, surely there must be some students who just cannot get the moves down. But this is not the main concern of TDC board members. "Some moves are hard... we just want to make sure everyone is having fun," said Simpson
TDC's communications manager Sarah Kohnstamm concurs. She said that TDC "draws students because it's really fun - people become attached, and it's not stressful."
Aside from the lure of the dance, the draw of the TDC show is its familiarity; as Kramer points out, audience members are bound to "see at least one person they know dancing." And though Kramer is not insinuating this, attending "Make You Sweat" provides a wonderful opportunity to mock those near and dear to you while also sparking your inner urge to show off those sweet dance moves you've been working on. There's always next year.
Saturday night at 7 and 9:30 pm in Cohen Auditorium -- Tickets $3
